"For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. For God
sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world; but
that the world through him
might be saved."(Jn 3:16-17)

The Covenant that God made with us through the Blood of Jesus is an awesome thing. Not only does Jesus provide everything we need, He becomes everything we need. I've been doing a lot of thinking about this lately. Many of the blessings that God promises to us, He also reveals Himself as being that blessing that He promised. Let's look at a few key Scriptures that show us what redemption is all about.

Notice First Corinthians 1:30, "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" Did you notice that it doesn't just tell us that Jesus provides wisdom for us, which certainly He does, but it tells us that He becomes our wisdom. It doesn't just tell us that Jesus provides righteousness for us, which certainly He does that too, but it tells us that He becomes our righteousness. He not only provides sanctification and redemption, but He becomes our sanctification and redemption.

Another Scripture tells us that our righteousness is as filthy rags. On judgment day, we will not be able to point to our own deeds of righteousness for justification for God to allow us pass through the Gates of Pearl. We point to Jesus because He is our righteousness. If I've "missed the mark" in some area of my life, "there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus". I just repent and acknowledge that Jesus has become my righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Praise the Lord, I don't have to stand in my own righteousness, I stand in Him, I stand in His righteousness, and He is my righteousness, sanctification, and redemption!

I like the fact that Jesus is my wisdom. I know Scripture promises in the Epistle of James that He will liberally provide wisdom if I ask for it. But the truth is, not only does He provide it, He becomes my wisdom. In the same way that I don't have to stand in my own righteousness, I also don't have to stand in my own wisdom. If I find my self "missing the mark" in this area of my life, I turn to the Father and point to Jesus who is made unto me wisdom. He has become my wisdom. I don't have to rely on my own wisdom, I stand in Him, and I stand in His wisdom. He is my wisdom!

This thought sheds new light on what Paul meant when he tells us that we have the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16). It isn't just that God gives us Christ's mind. I believe that it is saying that Jesus Christ becomes our mind. We have the mind of Christ. In other words: Christ is mind the mind that we have. He becomes our thoughts. This is part of Him becoming our wisdom. Once again, if we find ourselves missing the mark intellectually, we can look to Jesus as becoming our mind. What an awesome thought. But it gets even better.

There are a lot of Scriptures that talk about God protecting us. There are a lot of verses that not only tell that He not only provides protection, but He becomes our protection. One of those verses is in the 144th Psalm. "My Goodness, and my Fortress, my HighTower, and my Deliverer, my Shield, and He in whom I trust." Once again, it isn't just that He provides goodness, He is my goodness. It isn't just that He provides protection; He actually becomes my fortress, my high tower, and my shield.

The idea of Jesus being my fortress projects a picture of a thick strong wall of protection that surrounds me at all times. The idea of Jesus being my high tower is a picture of us being lifted above or away from the attacks of the enemy. The word tower could have been translated "refuge" or "retreat". Jesus is my refuge and He is my retreat. The idea of Jesus being my shield shows again that He is my protection. The prime root to this Hebrew word translated "shield" means to surround. So we can clearly see that He is my protection surrounding me on all sides. (II Sam.2:22; Ps.18:2)

There are many other Scriptures that tell us that God is our fortress; He is a thick wall of protection for us (Ps. 31:3; 71:3; 91:2). There are many other verses that tell us that God is our shield (De.33:29; Ps.3:3; 33:20; 59:11; 84:9, 11). He told Abraham that He was his shield (Ge.15:1). As long as I am walking by faith believing that He is protecting me in these ways, He is faithful to these promises.

The 28th Psalm has an interesting statement: "The Lord is my strength and my shield." Not only is He my shield, He also is my strength. Whether we are weak or strong in our natural bodies, we need to learn to rely on His strength. Not only does He provide strength for us, He actually becomes our strength. So not only is He our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, and protection, but He is also our strength. Let's see what else He is to us according to Scripture.

Jesus is also my provision. In the 15th chapter of Genesis, God told Abraham that He was his exceeding great reward. There are many Scriptures that reveal to us that God desires to bless His people with prosperity, riches, and even wealth. Paul told the Philippians that God would supply their need according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus. His provision isn't according to my ability to work, sweat, and toil seemingly endless hours every day, perhaps even working two or three jobs. No, that's not God's best for any of us. Thank God that His provision is according to His endless riches in Glory, by Christ Jesus! Jesus is my provision.

When we are in need financially or are lacking in any material need, we need to see Him as our provision. In Chris Tomlin's song "Enough", he expresses this thought to the Lord by saying, "You are my supply, my breath of life, still more awesome than I know. You are my reward, worth living for, still more awesome than I know. All of You is more than enough for every thirst and every need. You satisfy me with Your love and all I have in You is more than enough." That pretty much says it all, doesn't it? Allow Him to be your everything! Allow Him to be, whatever it is that you need.

There are many verses in the Bible that promises Divine Guidance, so we need to trust Him to not only lead us but to actually be the path we walk. In the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus doesn't just tell us that He provides the way; He tells us that He is the way. This is also what He is telling us when He calls Himself the door in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John. In the 48th Psalm He is called our Guide (Ps.48:14). He is the path that I walk.

There are many passages in Scripture that promise health and healing, so we need to trust Him to not only bring us health and healing, but allow Him to be our health. After all, we are members of the body of Christ. There should be no sickness or disease in His body. I believe that the body of Jesus Christ should be walking in the same level of perfect divine health that Jesus walked in when He was with us in the flesh. We are now His body and He is our health. This is His perfect will.

Also, Jesus doesn't only promise that we will be resurrected, He tells us that He is the Resurrection. Jesus doesn't only promise to give you peace, but He promises to be your peace. "And He will be their peace..." (Micah 5:5).

Allow Jesus to be your everything. Allow Him to be your righteousness, because your righteousness will fall short. Allow Him to be your wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, because yours will fail. Allow Him to be your provision and wealth, because He is always more than enough. Allow Him to be your path, your health, and everything else. God has promised us many things in Scripture. But Jesus doesn't just provide what He promises, He becomes what He promised to provide. Jesus is so interested in your life that He wants to be your everything.